Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Is that the River of Night?
Shadowdark Shadowdark General Thread [+]
- Thread starter overgeeked
- Start date
Scribe
Legend
Spiral159
Explorer
I recently got a GM screen that you can put your own inserts in. Besides the dungeon map I can't think of anything else to put in that isn't redundant from the inside of the SD core book. What do you guys have in your GM screens or what do you think would be generally good to have?
Bill Zebub
“It’s probably Matt Mercer’s fault.”
Not the screen specifically, but a couple of years ago my group adopted the practice of hanging cards over the screen, one each for players and, in combat, whatever NPCs are in the combat. On the side facing the player we initially just wrote character names, but over time we started adding artwork/illustrations. On the GM facing side were things the GM might need, like AC, passive perception, etc. When initiative was rolled, the GM would arrange the cards by order of initiative.
The initiative order aspect of this method isn't needed in Shadowdark, but as GM I really like having those critical character stats on hand for easy reference.
lantry
Villager
You can still late pledge to the project. That way you can still get the Citadel of the Scarlet Minotaur hardcover for free if you buy any of the physical books.
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
I hope this is okay to ask in this thread, since it is a small question and I don't want to start a new thread just for it, but I was looking at the morale rules and it struck me as odd that failing a Wisdom check is what makes monsters flee. I would think that failing would make a monster do the unwise thing and hang around to keep fighting, while a successful check is what would make them hot foot it out of there if possible.
Anyway, I am new to Shadowdark and was curious about others opinions on this. I am actually just considering going the 2E D&D route and just assigning every monster a morale score I roll against instead.
Anyway, I am new to Shadowdark and was curious about others opinions on this. I am actually just considering going the 2E D&D route and just assigning every monster a morale score I roll against instead.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
I see what you're saying, and it's a little awkward. I think it's an artifact of just using the six core stats for everything.
That said, Shadowdark is very robust. You can easily replace the morale system with something else without the rest of the system getting damaged.
Bill Zebub
“It’s probably Matt Mercer’s fault.”
I mean, it's a good point. I think it's meant to represent losing control of yourself and fleeing in terror, as opposed to making a wise, strategic retreat.
In a similar way to what @el-remmen is saying, maybe player characters should be required make a Wisdom check at the entrance to any dungeon. On a success, you turn right around and go home.
In a similar way to what @el-remmen is saying, maybe player characters should be required make a Wisdom check at the entrance to any dungeon. On a success, you turn right around and go home.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
"You fail your Wisdom check, return home, reconcile with your father, turn the dairy farm into a rousing success, end up having six children, 40 grandchildren and die peacefully in your bed, surrounded by your loving family, at the age of 79, which is pretty good for this point in fantasy history."
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
Hmm. Yeah, I see now. Maybe a fail means a reckless flight from combat and on a success you might have them choose to flee anyway, but it'd be more of a strategic retreat.
